Anyone taken the A+ exam recently?

[TurtleCrusher]

What's it like? Is it difficult to pass? I'm studying with THIS BOOK.

It's a ton of money for me, but I need to pass this before I take the server+ exam.

 

[RagingBITCH]

If you know how to turn on a PC, you can pass the A+. Maybe they've updated it in the years since I've taken it, but it was so easy it's not even funny. Most of the practice tests you can take from a book or online are verbatim the questions you find on the test.

 

[jlee]

I didn't know Server+ had prerequisites. I haven't taken the A+, but I'd take a few practice tests online and see how you do. I passed the first one I tried...didn't seem difficult at all.

 

[alzan]

Took it a couple of months ago. It's not hard; but realize that there are a few "outdated" technologies about which it will ask.

 

[PliotronX]

Easier than any of the ExamCram and Pearson preps.

 

[steppinthrax]

Is there any purpose for A+ today?

 

[Retro Rob]

Is there any purpose for A+ today?

Yes, for entry-level technicians (which is the entire point of the exam) who want to show they know something about repariing computers.

People looking to ride that "magic bullet" by thinking they can skip the entry-level stuff and jump right into advanced networking/server administration are dreaming and will be sorely disppointed when their careers don't go as envisioned.

Crawl before you walk.

 

[jlee]

Yes, for entry-level technicians (which is the entire point of the exam) who want to show they know something about repariing computers.

People looking to ride that "magic bullet" by thinking they can skip the entry-level stuff and jump right into advanced networking/server administration are dreaming and will be sorely disppointed when their careers don't go as envisioned.

Crawl before you walk.

You don't necessarily need an A+ for that, though. If you can get your foot in the door without one, you're probably not going to ever need it.

 

[Retro Rob]

You don't necessarily need an A+ for that, though. If you can get your foot in the door without one, you're probably not going to ever need it.

But how can you get your "foot in the door" to begin with without one?

That's a big *if* you're relying on. If you're applying for a job and someone else wiith the same amount of experience is applying for the same job and that person has an A+ and you don't, guess who's getting the interview?

Secondly, if you're going to have the experience, why not go ahead and get the certification? It make you more attractive than the guy who doesn't have one, and give you an edge on your uncertified competition.

It only makes sense.

 

[sourceninja]

I just had to take my A+ as part of finishing my degree (It tested me out of some basic classes). It's pretty braindead. The hardest parts are the windows phone questions and the old printer questions (order the steps for cleaning the head on a thermal printer, etc). Also, make sure you are good at identifying all types of ram via sight. I missed the laptop ram because again, I'm not a PC repair guy and I can't tell you what kind of ram you have just by looking at a low res picture of it (number of pins / key locations). In the real world we just lookup what kinda of ram our motherboard supports and we buy that, but not in test world.

My advice is just to take the test and not to waste any time on the hands on questions if you get stuck as these don't tend to count against you as much as the multiple choice questions.

I passed with about 6 hours notice and I haven't done basic PC work in almost a decade.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I took that thing in the late 90s right after they revamped the exam questions....so they didn't have the adaptive version available. I think it was 88 questions and I scored in the upper 90% range.

The questions were pretty straight forward back then, but there were a lot more memory addressing and static discharge type questions back then, I can imagine. IRQs and junk were a pain when devices would get installed and only show up in windows safe mode... I was fortunate enough to have experience networking computers in DOS.

 

[steppinthrax]

Yes, for entry-level technicians (which is the entire point of the exam) who want to show they know something about repariing computers.

People looking to ride that "magic bullet" by thinking they can skip the entry-level stuff and jump right into advanced networking/server administration are dreaming and will be sorely disppointed when their careers don't go as envisioned.

Crawl before you walk.

I worked for several companies (last company was a fed contractor that supported a DoD agency). I only knew 2 people that ever had A+. The last company I was at had a help desk of 20+ none had A+ and they were very competent. Within the networking and server team none had A+.

 

[steppinthrax]

But how can you get your "foot in the door" to begin with without one?

That's a big *if* you're relying on. If you're applying for a job and someone else wiith the same amount of experience is applying for the same job and that person has an A+ and you don't, guess who's getting the interview?

Secondly, if you're going to have the experience, why not go ahead and get the certification? It make you more attractive than the guy who doesn't have one, and give you an edge on your uncertified competition.

It only makes sense.

I would say the only people that would need A+ are those who never touched a comp in their lives and want to get into the field. But I know companies who will take those people and put them in a help desk capacity (low rate of course) and within a year no one cares about A+.

 

[jlee]

But how can you get your "foot in the door" to begin with without one?

That's a big *if* you're relying on. If you're applying for a job and someone else wiith the same amount of experience is applying for the same job and that person has an A+ and you don't, guess who's getting the interview?

Secondly, if you're going to have the experience, why not go ahead and get the certification? It make you more attractive than the guy who doesn't have one, and give you an edge on your uncertified competition.

It only makes sense.

Just saying - once you're hired, nobody cares if you have an A+.

I don't have one, and I play with Cisco, VMware, etc. at work.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Thanks for the advice. I'm just nervous to take it. I feel like I know pc hardware and the Windows environment like the back of my hand but it scared the shit out out me to be so lost.

 

[Demo24]

Is there any purpose for A+ today?

For entry level techs with minimal to no work experience, it can be helpful to get your resume looked at. A lot of places still put it on the job postings. However, any useful experience of about a year and then probably no point.

I thought about doing it, then realized it would be pointless for me to do so. I did read one of the a+ books, which actually did teach me a few things. However, in looking at some practice stuff the questions they ask are kind of silly. The exact steps to finding 'x' setting, etc. Although I've heard they've updated it to more modern applications.

 

[Smoblikat]

I took the A+ a couple years ago, the hardest parts are memorizing IRQ assignments, and the 6 steps to laser printing. I repeat, LEARN IRQ's and the SIX STEPS TO LASER PRINTING.

 

[alzan]

But how can you get your "foot in the door" to begin with without one?

That's a big *if* you're relying on. If you're applying for a job and someone else wiith the same amount of experience is applying for the same job and that person has an A+ and you don't, guess who's getting the interview?

Secondly, if you're going to have the experience, why not go ahead and get the certification? It make you more attractive than the guy who doesn't have one, and give you an edge on your uncertified competition.

It only makes sense.

Agree. I hate the paper chase just as much as anyone but when A+ certification is one of the minimum requirements for a given job you're in a better position having it. It's not like it's a financial setback or great investment of time.

Not everyone knows someone at the company to help them get their foot in the door. When it comes to wooing potential employers I'd rather meet or beat the position requirements than depend on current relationships with someone who works there.

Employers might be impressed with the hardware/software you've used and worked with but they're also equally as concerned with how a candidate has prepared for their career; both currently and for future growth.

 

[destrekor]

I took the A+ a couple years ago, the hardest parts are memorizing IRQ assignments, and the 6 steps to laser printing. I repeat, LEARN IRQ's and the SIX STEPS TO LASER PRINTING.

Not on the test anymore.

Well, Laser Printing might be, can't recall if I got asked any of those questions, but they have removed IRQ questions... finally.
They have also mostly if not completely removed questions pertaining to Windows XP or earlier.
They have added iOS (Apple) and perhaps Android.

I took it less than a month ago, as a hopeful job absolutely requires it. And I had a buddy who took it a few months prior to that for an Air Force requirement.

 

[Red Storm]

Never took it, never needed it. I'm currently taking some Sans courses that I need to pass for work though.

I know of one recruiter who told me that when he sees A+ on a resume his expectations go downhill. It all depends on the type of job you're going after though.

 

[sourceninja]

Never took it, never needed it. I'm currently taking some Sans courses that I need to pass for work though.

I know of one recruiter who told me that when he sees A+ on a resume his expectations go downhill. It all depends on the type of job you're going after though.

It's sad a recruiter would discount you for things on your resume that are additive (like certs).

I have a decade of experience in very large environments. I have half a dozen certs, many industry standard, but I also have an A+. It's on my resume. Anyone who discounts me for that is probably not the kind of guy I'd want to work with.

 

[destrekor]

It's sad a recruiter would discount you for things on your resume that are additive (like certs).

I have a decade of experience in very large environments. I have half a dozen certs, many industry standard, but I also have an A+. It's on my resume. Anyone who discounts me for that is probably not the kind of guy I'd want to work with.

This.

I'm familiar with some managers who don't give much credence to certs, recognizing they don't truly give much weight to on the job skill, but they don't discount applicants for having them.

 

[TreyRandom]

It's sad a recruiter would discount you for things on your resume that are additive (like certs).

I have a decade of experience in very large environments. I have half a dozen certs, many industry standard, but I also have an A+. It's on my resume. Anyone who discounts me for that is probably not the kind of guy I'd want to work with.

+1

The A+ is exactly what you ought to be focusing on if you're just getting started in IT. Although the A+ isn't required for most entry-level IT jobs, some employers require it. And even when it's not required, it's usually desired.

However, Scholz, I'd recommend you get a different book. I once worked with a help-desk tech who used an earlier edition of that book to study for the A+ exam and failed the first exam badly... so badly, in fact, she didn't try again. At least, not until I became her co-worker years later. I recommended that she use the A+ All-in-One by Meyers (current version here). She studied it and passed both exams.

If you need any certification advice, please feel free to ping me. RetroRob (above) can vouch for my solid advice, as I mentored him years ago as well.

 

[TreyRandom]

One quick warning - stay away from exam dumps. If you're suspected of using them, you can be decertified and banned from future certifications for life: link

Not worth it. If you need practice exams to see if you're ready, there are plenty of legit ones out there.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I am getting my foot in the door with a very well known tech company to be a technician in their server farms. My connection suggested that with my experience as an electronics technician in the navy, electrician and former tech support, an A+ and more importantly server+ would get me in the door.